Is Ralph's really refusing to fill prescriptions for Plan B?

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Is Ralph's really refusing to fill prescriptions for Plan B?

Submitted by rainy gray on Sat, 05/13/2006 - 11:16am.

Last night at a party I heard that Storman's (which owns Ralph's and Bayview, but I don't think Bayview has a pharmacy, right?)is refusing to fill prescriptions for the morning after pill. Does anyone know if this is true? I spend a lot of money at these stores, and if this rumor is true, I guess I'm going to be spending a lot of money buying extra gas to drive out to Top Foods instead.

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Update

Submitted by rainy gray on Sat, 05/13/2006 - 1:47pm.

So, I called Ralph's pharmacy to see what I could find out. I talked to a female pharmacy tech, who initially tried to put me off by taking my name and number, saying the owner would call me back. She said the pharmacy department "been getting a lot of these calls." I asked "so is it true?" And she told me that they didn't refuse to fill prescriptions for Plan B, rather it was "store policy not to stock it." Hmmm....

so what does that mean

Submitted by epersonae on Mon, 05/15/2006 - 1:46pm.

so what does that mean exactly? are there other prescription drugs that they don't stock? by not stocking Plan B, does that have the same result as refusing to fill a prescription? if so, then I think a boycott (by people who disapprove of that action) is in order. (again, I sigh.)

Are they trying to sell us

Submitted by epersonae on Sat, 05/13/2006 - 2:38pm.

Are they trying to sell us food or religion? ::sigh:: I would really rather not have to boycott my favorite grocery store!

Boycott!!!!!

Submitted by Crenshaw Sepulveda on Sat, 05/13/2006 - 6:50pm.

Show them it is better to serve the people of olympia than the white house. We do not need this chicken crap stuff going on here in Olympia, it might play well in Eastern Washington, but they can forget this nonsense here. Many of the people on this site shop at one of these stores, I, for one, will eschew them until they stop following the orders of the whitehouse blindly.

Top Ten Reasons to Boycott Thriftway

Submitted by Jade on Sat, 05/13/2006 - 9:40pm.

I recently posted this on MySpace,but thought it might be of interest to you as well... Top Ten Reasons to Boycott Thriftway: 10. They sell kitschy but strangely tempting gift items at inflated prices. 9. They compete with the Olympia Food Co-op-- which rocks. (See top ten reasons to shop at the Co-op.) 8. Their food is way overpriced, especially organics and health food. 7. They consider taking a nibble from the bulk bin or a bite of a donut "shoplifiting". 6. They would not allow some youth volunteers to run a donations drive for Bread and Roses in front of their store because they felt, "Bread and Roses doesn't do enough to isolate the homeless community." 5. They pulled an ad from the Olympian in an attempt to pressure the O not to print an article about Stonewall Youth, an organization that saves lives by making a safe place for GLBTQ teenagers. 4. They will not sell the Morning After Pill at their pharmacy because they consider it an abortifacient. 3. They extort money from shoplifters. (That's right--that jelly bean is gonna cost you $200) 2. They have a plain-clothes security guard who assaults shoplifters. 1. They tackled a 65-year-old man for stealing food, and then called the Olympia Police who tased the man face down in a puddle repeatedly until he died.

Good for them

Submitted by white feather on Sun, 05/14/2006 - 5:36am.

Good for Storman's for standing up with what they believe. I'm sure they understand that some business will be lost with this decision. But also, they will gain business they didn't have before, like mine, based on this decision. I will still make my monthly trek to Walmart for most of my groceries, but my weekly needs will be filled with Storman's products.

I smell a troll

Submitted by rainy gray on Sun, 05/14/2006 - 8:04am.

You care enough about withholding birth control from women to change where you shop? Yeah, whatever. When I imagine the group of people who don't have any potential personal need for Plan B (the elderly, guys who have had vasectomies, guys who only sleep with women who have had their tubes tied, people who want to have as many babies as possible, guys who come so quickly the condom will never ever ever break, the perenially celibate) who also care strongly about withholding the morning after pill from rape victims, incest victims, victims of birth control mishaps, as well as victims of their own impulsivity, and it seems like a pretty small group. I don't think Ralph's can expect any upcoming surge of business...

You must be smelling your upper lip

Submitted by white feather on Mon, 05/15/2006 - 3:49am.

I support both a man and a woman's right to birth control. I support neither in the abortion process at any point. Abortion is not birth control, its murder.

As far as the question at hand, I support businesses deciding what they will sell and what they won't. I also understand that for those that would boycott for one issue might very well bring business in.

As far as a surge of business in this community over an issue like this?? You're right not here......some how many think that is a good thing....?? Not me.

Plan B prevents abortions

Submitted by rainy gray on Mon, 05/15/2006 - 6:16am.

We're not talking about RU486 here, we're talking about emergency contraception. It's taken immediately after birth control failure or unprotected sex. Plan B doesn't induce abortion; it "interferes with prefertilization events." So if some woman is raped, takes a morning after pill immediately to prevent pregnancy, prescribed to her by the doctor who collects medical evidence and documents her bruising, purchased somewhere other than Ralph's, obviously, she's a murderess? There's no beating heart, here, none other than the rape victim's.

Lets get back on the issue

Submitted by white feather on Mon, 05/15/2006 - 7:56am.

The abortion issue and what is or isn't an abortion is something outside this thread. I would love to debate the abortion issue, but not here. My fault for slipping that in and possibly derailing the thread.

What is in question is whether Storman's should or should not stock this product. I say its their business they can decide whether to stock beer and wine, white bread or whole wheat, or tampons or pads. Its their business. If you don't like it, go elsewhere. Storman's has been in business a long time and I'm sure they understand this policy will not sit well with some in this community. It just so happens I agree with them,,,,and in the process because I don't agree with some here, now I'm a Troll.

Last time I disagreed here, it was alluded to that I was a scat eater. For being more tolerant people, you liberals aren't very tolerant.

Also, if this product is needed for rape, etc. there are plenty of places that have it in stock, and for rape, I'm sure Capital Medical Center(perhaps St. Peter's Hospital won't though) will have it available, or the doctor doing the rape exam.

Just to clarify

Submitted by rainy gray on Mon, 05/15/2006 - 8:10am.

I made the troll comment because I suspected that your stated intention to START shopping at Ralph's because of their policy of withholding birth control from women was meant to be provocative, rather than a genuine intention. I consider making provocative statements to get a reaction trolling. Maybe I was wrong; I don't know you, so it's hard to gauge your sincerity. Maybe you really will start shopping at Ralph's. Be warned, though, that if you're used to shopping at Walmart's, Ralph's may seem rather expensive.

Hi Rainy Gray

Submitted by white feather on Mon, 05/15/2006 - 9:48am.

Yes, I understand what trolling is. Let me assure you that my comments aren't intended to inflame, but do frequently as my views on some topics tend to be different than many here on Olyblog.

As far as shopping at Storman's, I was trying to point out that even though some may boycott for their decisions, others may shop there for those same decisions.

Aw, come on!

Submitted by DrewHendricks on Mon, 05/15/2006 - 3:03pm.

"and in the process because I don't agree with some here, now I'm a Troll."

"Last time I disagreed here, it was alluded to that I was a scat eater. For being more tolerant people, you liberals aren't very tolerant."

I'm not sure what you call sitting on our hands while the Commander in Thief steals the 2000 and 2004 elections, but intolerant is not how I would descibe it. "Cowardly" comes to mind, "ineffective," and a few other choice epithets not appropriate for public discourse...

As for getting someone's hackles up, you should be aware that when you communicate you are essentially representing your values, or imparting information.

If your stated or implied values devalue someone else's life or freedom to make their own choices, then you're likely conflicting with the core values of most liberals. Of course you'll get yelled at. That's what people do when you state (or imply) that they don't have the human rights they expect you to recognize and respect.

You can't have all of us radicals respecting your property rights while you're telling us we can't (or should not) be outraged at Stormans for restricting medical options for women. Most of us simply value our human rights to control our bodies WAY more than a theoretical right to own a big store and make these choices for everyone else. We ALL have the body control issues - every one of us, men and women, owning class and working class. Only a few owning class people get to make the property ownership choices you imply are more important or sacred than our body control rights. Thus some outrage at your attempts to champion property over people will be heard. Please understand that for some of us, this is a life and death issue rather than an academic one. Emotions flare in times like this. Your ego is not our target, WF. Our freedom, from people who sound like you, is what we're aiming for.

Boycotts

Submitted by Crenshaw Sepulveda on Sun, 05/14/2006 - 8:32am.

Boycotts just drive the conservatives crazy, just like labor strikes. Any action that will hurt the bottom line of a business will really get their hackles up. It is not even that the business might hurt all that much, it is more that the people have some power and they hate people having power. Power, it appers, should only belong with those with business interests and not ordinary citizens, particularly ordinary citizens of the progressive persuation. My own census of Storman's customers demonstrates to me that a boycott against them in order to change their views on this issue will have a great impact.

I love boycotts

Submitted by white feather on Mon, 05/15/2006 - 3:56am.

I believe in boycotts, and currently am involved in a boycott of a local business. And I'm sure to let them know about the boycott with regular updates of the business they have lost and people I have convinced to go elsewhere.

Boycott mexican businesses

Submitted by white feather on Mon, 05/15/2006 - 10:12am.

So CS, how do you feel about boycotting the mexican businesses since they had their little temper tantrum over the immigration issue?

I support Mexican owned business

Submitted by Crenshaw Sepulveda on Mon, 05/15/2006 - 7:10pm.

I tend to support those that are at the bottom of the social scale. If I can help them out by supporting their business I will. I am very active in Latino social causes and very much support their desire to have the same opportunities in America as their earlier immigrant brothers and sisters from Ireland, Poland, or where ever. I know, they are here illegally is the argument. But seriously they are really here because our economy demands it. Our latino brothers and sisters provide cheap exploitable labor, time for them to have a fair shot at the american dream. How many years of exploitation do they have to put in before they are valued?

So abide by the law,,,all

Submitted by white feather on Tue, 05/16/2006 - 3:17am.

So abide by the law,,,all will be good.

Damn...

Submitted by DrewHendricks on Sun, 05/14/2006 - 2:44pm.

Jade's list of reasons is a good place to start... but I have to mention that Mr Edwards was not drowning in a puddle, he was merely laying face down on wet pavement in November when he died. Small detail, I know...

And now that the Attorney General (per the Olympian) apparently thinks that the Stormans' security firm (Formerly TheftCo, now known as Asset Protection) can impose "in store fines" for shoplifters in ADDITION to prosecution, prior to arrest (or instead of arrest), I have to say that Jade is spot on. I should start shopping at the Coop instead. I knew that creepy 'bookstore' at Ralph's was indicating a cultural / political stance I do not share... and if you look around Ralph's on an afternoon, you'll see a lot of people who don't share the Hard Right Christian viewpoint.

But here is an idea: Plan B is just three day's worth of regular birth control pills (the ones with active hormones in them, not the placebos you take just to keep remembering to take them). So why have a special prescription, why not just triple up on the regular pills and ask for an extra month next time you're into the gynecologist? (Stupid man questions, I know... but that is what my wife did when she wanted to be sure we were not pregnant. It worked, we have no kids (yay!))

You're right but...

Submitted by rainy gray on Mon, 05/15/2006 - 7:23am.

It's true that you can just take an extra dose of regular b.c. pills for the same effect as the morning after pill, (I actually did it myself once) but that's not practicable for a lot of people. First, if you're an active user of the pill, you don't need the morning after pill; you're already protected. Second, most people who may need Plan B are not going to have unexpired extra b.c.p.'s sitting around. I imagine that if I asked my gynecologist for a prescription for extra b.c.p.'s just in case I needed to use them as emergency contraception, she would probably just give me emergency contraception -- it's less wasteful, and there's less uncertainty about the proper dosage. Third, there are a lot of people who are insecure about taking medical matters into their own hands, and using a drug other than how it is prescribed. I think such people would do better with a product with clear directions for its proper use printed right there in simple language. But, more than any of these practical reasons, I have steam coming out of my ears because Ralph's has the audacity to take decisions regarding my reproductive choices into their own hands. It's true that all they can do is refuse to carry the drug in their store, they can't prevent me from obtaining Plan B elsewhere (BTW, everyone should know that Planned Parenthood gives it out free, no medical appointment necessary, no questions asked, and they will happily give you some to keep around just in case something unexpected happens on a Friday night and you don't want to wait until Monday morning to get some EC). But Ralph's is doing everything in its power to control my reproductive life. I've used emergency contraception more than once. I guess in the Stormans' eyes that makes me a serial killer? Well, they don't like my kind, and I don't like their kind. (Unfortunately, I like their store, yeah, except for that awful book section, and it's convenient for me, too...). I feel strongly that right wing Christians are out of line in trying to control the sex lives of strangers, so I'm going to vote with my dollars, and I'm voting "Mind your own business, Ralph's."

RG say's "But Ralph's is

Submitted by white feather on Mon, 05/15/2006 - 8:04am.

RG say's "But Ralph's is doing everything in its power to control my reproductive life."

RG says's "I feel strongly that right wing Christians are out of line in trying to control the sex lives of strangers."

First of all, you are in control of your reproductive life, so take responsiblity and don't get pissed when a business asserts ITS RIGHTS.

Secondly, why are you singling out Christians? Muslims and Jews both oppose abortion, and I don't know, but likely other religions do too.

Uhhhh....

Submitted by rainy gray on Mon, 05/15/2006 - 11:43am.

What am I supposed to take responsibility for? The thing I don't want other people to try to control? Interesting logic. As for why I'm singling out Christians, I guess I'd have to say because Ralph's, the current target of my wrath, is owned by Christians. Aside from that, though, I haven't noticed a strong Jewish movement to restrict access to abortion.

Hey Drew WTF?

Submitted by John Manini on Mon, 05/15/2006 - 3:00pm.

Unless you are a qualified, licensed OB-GYN, who the hell are you to dispense medical "advice" to anyone? Just because you're wife did something stupid based on specious reasoning and didn't see any adverse affects, you are encouraging other people to engage in reckless behavior? If you wife had gotten pregnant, would you have performed an abortion yourself because. HEY, stupid guy question... why not just ask your gynecologist how it's done and go for it! how hard could it be?

BTW people, Ralph's keeps condoms and pregnancy tests locked up in a case in the "cold and allergy" aisle. You need to ask a pharmacist for a key to get to them and the pharmacy techs are only there during banker's hour.

{delete}

Submitted by white feather on Mon, 05/15/2006 - 4:43pm.

Delete

Ralphs just trying to make a point for the religious right

Submitted by Crenshaw Sepulveda on Mon, 05/15/2006 - 8:14pm.

this is not about a business chosing one product over another. I do suspect the conservative stores choose not to sell Heniz products. This is just Ralphs sucking up to the religious right by making a point for them. I really don't think it is a revenue maker or loser for them, not stocking the pill. I think it can be a money loser when the progressives that have been patronizing them in the past take their business else where. I'm sure they will not mind suffering for their principles. I will not cry for them.

A protest

Submitted by Keylee on Mon, 05/22/2006 - 7:56am.

I haven't read all of the posts. But, I have a feeling that some of ya'll know about this stuff as I blew the proverbial whistle. It floored me that I was the only person in my circles to know about this civil liberties travesty. I have strong feeling about this, and do not wish to debate it at this time. However, I have been boycotting the Storman's for two weeks now, as have many of my friends. 1. My first action is to encourage all of you who are upset about this to call the pharmacy once a day for a week. Call and ask for the pill, then ask why. If 10, 50, 200 people do this every day for a week, it will fo noticed. THis campaign will start this week. 2. If everyone who is upset about this writes the Stormans - even briefly - to speak about their disappointement and impending or current boycott, it will be powerful. 3. Write letters to the editor 4. There will be a mass protest in Late June. A meeting for organizing will be held on June 19th, Monday - location TBA. This is serious as we all have supported Storman's for years and many make choices to shop there as they are not only easliy accessible, but also are supportive of many progressive organizations in this community as well as being locally owned. THanks!

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